In 2024, Dutch companies and inventors filed 7,054 patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO). This places the Netherlands third among EU countries for patent applications at the EPO, as revealed by the EPOs 2024 Patent Index.
Dutch Innovation in a Wide Range of Technologies
The top sector for patent applications from the Netherlands was medical technology, with 792 applications. Philips was once again the largest applicant at the EPO in this sector, followed by electrical machinery, apparatus, energy with 654 applications. The strongest growth, however, came from macromolecular chemistry and polymers (+25.6% compared to 2023). Semiconductors was another sector with strong growth in applications (+19.7%). In food chemistry, the number of applications from the Netherlands decreased the most (-20.8%).
Computer Technology as the Leading Field
The trend of computer technology, including AI developments being the leading field, is also evident in the data for the Netherlands. The number of patent applications from Dutch companies and inventors in the field of computers increased by 4.8%. Electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy showed the strongest growth at the EPO last year (+8.9% compared to 2023), driven by advances in clean energy technologies. Specifically, inventions around battery technologies increased by 24%.
Large Companies Make Significant Contributions
Philips was once again the top applicant from the Netherlands, ranking 11th among the global top applicants at the EPO with 1,231 applications, followed by Signify in 23rd place with 742 applications. Among the top 10 Dutch patent applicants, NXP Semiconductors saw the largest increase in applications in 2024 (to 479 applications, +29.5% compared to 2023).
Small Companies Use Patent System to Stimulate Innovation
The Dutch research organization TNO ranked in the top 10 of European universities and public research institutions for patent applications in 2024. This underscores the appeal of the patent system to innovative public organizations.
1 in 4 Patent Applications Includes a Female Inventor
In 2024, 25% of all patent applications from the Netherlands included at least one female inventor. This is in line with the average of the 39 EPO member states (also 25%).
Unitary Patent Increasingly Popular Among Dutch Patent Holders
The unitary patent system has been offering innovators simpler and more accessible patent protection in 18 EU member states with a single application at the EPO since 2023.
Patent Office Netherlands Collaborates Closely with EPO
Globally, the Netherlands maintains its impressive 8th position in the number of patent applications at the EPO. The figures once again confirm our strong international position in innovation. The patent index provides a good picture of the innovation direction we pursue in the Netherlands; it becomes clear that Dutch companies are increasingly applying for patents in clean energy technology (especially battery technologies) and computer technology. Patent Office Netherlands and EPO work closely together to protect Dutch innovations, both in the Netherlands and worldwide.
Want to Know More?
Read more details in the full press release on epo.org.